Kidsfest #Winnipeg 2014 Family Pass Giveaway!

Looking for a fantastic day out with the littles?  Winnipeg Kidsfest is happening on June 5th-8th 2014 at The Forks, and I have a Family Pass to giveaway! This will be a quick one, as I'll be mailing the pass out on Friday to the winner. Here's some information about the event!

Highlights at the event include performances by Fred Penner, All Simmons and Jake Chenier among many others.  A list of Activities can be found here.  And check here for the Kidsfest 2014 Schedule.

Enter below -- and GOOD LUCK!  I hope to see you there.  :)

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Sleep Soundly With Baby: Levana OMA Movement Monitor #Review & #Giveaway

When my daughter was born, my first child, I was naturally nervous for the first couple of weeks. While I'd done plenty of childcare in the past, nothing really compares to having your own newborn to love and watch over.  That said, I can't say my fears then come close in comparison to how I felt after my son was born.  True, because he was my second, some things were much easier.  Breastfeeding, for example.  And the basic knowledge that expectations are useless.  But having been on bed rest with him for 5 weeks during pregnancy, with complications and the loss of my twin girls in between my two kids, meant I was very, very on edge.   Looking back, I can see that the reason my baby boy had so much trouble sleeping at night (in addition to the fact that he's always been an eating machine, lol) is because I was a bundle of nerves.  And he felt that.

If I'd had the opportunity to use something like the Levana Oma Movement Monitor, my nights may have been far less restless.  I remember my doctor coming into my hospital room on day 2 or 3 asking if I had slept at all. ... I just shook my head.  I was worried about my boy!  Even when he did fall asleep, I just couldn't stop listening to his breathing.  The bags under my bloodshot eyes were pretty obvious evidence of this.

The Oma Movement Monitor:
Oma™ clips snugly onto baby’s diaper and senses baby’s tiniest movements with a soft, flexible sensor at the belly button area.  Because your baby is in constant contact with the sensor, it is unlikely to give a false alarm, unlike an under-the-mattress monitor. Knowing you will only be alerted if the situation is critical will help you feel more at ease during baby’s deepest sleep. 
If the sensor detects more than 15 seconds of complete stillness, OMA™ will beep loudly to alert you that your attention is required immediately*. 

I love the peace of mind this device gives to parents, giving them the opportunity to get more done around the house, get more sleep or just unwind.  Because the Levana exclusively manufactures baby monitors, they specialize in making them exactly right.  The OMA and all other Levana alarms are digital and wireless, eliminating the risk of cord strangulation.  It's great to know that Levana has baby's safety as a very first priority.  These devices are added reassurance and peace of mind, making them something invaluable to parents.  That said, I always stress the importance of checking on little one yourself periodically -- nothing can replace that! 

The Levana OMA Movement Moniter is available at Walmart.ca for $89.99  
Enter below for a chance to win an OMA Movement Monitor of your own!  Good Luck! 

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

Getting My Breakfast On with #New Foods from Kellogg #Canada #Giveaway

Kellogg Canada is a brand I often turn to for breakfast foods and snacks. My kids are die hard fans of Original Special K cereal, which sits quite well with me because it sure beats any of those sugary, cartoon character varieties of cereal I grew up on!  As a part of the Kellog Canada bloggers network, I'm given the opportunity to try out the new products on a regular basis.  We're pretty excited about this!  The new line of snacks, cereal and shakes are really tasty.  Here's what you'll find on your store shelves now:

Strawberry and Apple flavoured Fruit Crunch bars, Kellog's To Go Breakfast Shakes, Protein Shakes, Chocolate Pastry Crisps, Chocolatey Red Berries Special K Cereal, and Special K Cracker Chips. 

When the box of goodies arrived my kids (and my big-kid at heart husband) were quick to dive right in, so I apologize for the lack of photos!  The Pastry Crisps were gone so fast I didn't even have the opportunity to try the Cookies & Cream variety myself - although I'm assured they were extremely delicious, lol - but the Caramel flavour was all mine and I really enjoyed them! 

Lucky for you, I'm able to giveaway a box just like the one we received to one lucky Born 2 Be Mom reader.  So if you're ready to get your breakfast on, then hurry up and enter below!  And good luck!


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Disney on Ice: Princesses & Heroes #Winnipeg #Giveaway

Disney On Ice: Princesses and Heroes will be making its way to Winnipeg on February 20th - 23rd, 2014 at the MTS Centre.  My family and I have been enjoying the Disney On Ice shows for a few years now, and our daughter is a huge fan!  This year, we'll be taking the little man as well.  What a great way to surprise the kids!  

Show Description -
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail.  Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Prince Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends are just a wish away!  See Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroeswhere believing is just the beginning!

Interested in purchasing tickets?  Use the PROMO CODE:  MUM44 to get 4 Tickets for $44 on any Weekday performance OR use MUM4 to get $4.00 Off Weekend shows.  

Lucky for you, Born 2 Be Mom is giving away a Family Pass of 4 tickets to see Disney on Ice: Princesses and Heroes on opening night, Feb20th at 7PM at the MTS CENTRE!  Enter below -- and good luck!


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Disney's SUPER BUDDIES #Movie #Review

 How many Disney movie fans do you have in your house? Here at the B2BeMOm household, we all love our Disney flicks. Recently, we were given the opportunity to review the Super Buddies Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack. Here's some info about the movie, and what we thought of it. 

Disney’s beloved and adorable ‘Buddies’ are back in a hilarious all-new movie for the whole family -- ‘SUPER BUDDIES’ debuts August 27, 2013, on Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack and DVD.  An action-packed canine adventure, ‘Super Buddies’ stars the world’s most adorable talking puppies - Rosebud, B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud, as caped crusaders em’barking’ on their biggest adventure ever.

An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, “Buddies, assemble,” the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities?

I knew my kids would LOVE this movie (which is, of course, what matters most) but I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it myself.  I won't lie, usually animal movies kind of irritate me!  However, I was so pleasantly surprised when I popped this DVD in, and sat down with the kiddos to watch it.  I found myself laughing a lot!  The characters are funny (especially Buddha who "oms" his way to a higher state of mind. lol. Love it.)  and the jokes definitely appeal to all ages.  My two year old son adored the puppies and just couldn't get enough.  My daughter thought the story was pretty cool too.  All in all, we found Super Buddies to be a great flick for the whole family!  Lots of giggles, a big adventure and a message about team work that's important for all to remember.  

 

 

An Epic Coffee Spill, A Stained Couch and A Happy Mom #ResolveTip

Sometimes having kids can be messy business. Having a little boy (or as some like to say; "noise with dirt on it") under the age of 2 is incredibly messy business! Case in point: The day I almost lost my brand new couch forever and ever to the biggest coffee disaster known to humankind.

It was an early morning in our old house, this past spring.  I was sitting in the living room on my brand new, lush, incredibly comfortable dark khaki Microfibre couch, drinking my coffee and writing a blog post.  The kids were playing near by, staying reasonably well out of trouble.  I was rather relaxed and enjoying myself. 

Then the phone rang.

Instead of doing what I now do EVERY SINGLE TIME I LEAVE MY SEAT, I left my coffee on the small wooden TV table I'd been resting it on and hopped up to answer the phone.  

I'm not sure what it is about Mother's being on the phone, but I assume you know the drill here.  You get busy chatting on an important call, the kids start acting up immediately.  (Why is that, by the way?!)  So, naturally unprovoked, my previously calm little boy started to run.  Off he went, around the kitchen, through the dining room, the living room and then BAM!  Into my small wooden TV table with the cup of coffee resting on it.  For the record, I don't do small cups of coffee -- I like my coffee strong, and in large doses! 

I looked up just in time to see coffee flying then landing across all 3 pillows, both arm rests, and the back of the couch, as well as our light beige coloured carpet.  I wish I could tell you how that's even possible.  It happened - and it was epic.  

I could have freaked out, or cried, or gotten mad... But the fact is, it was my fault for leaving my cup there, and my son was just doing what little toddler boys do best - running around and having fun.  Although I knew the coffee wasn't that hot, I was just glad that none landed on him.  Then I went straight to Google, because I knew that this stain had to be dealt with properly, and it had to be dealt with fast!  Otherwise I wouldn't stand a chance of saving my beloved couch.

For the record, if you use extreme caution you can machine wash Microfibre couch cushion covers in your front loading machine on a very delicate, cold water setting. :)  I did this, then hung them to dry outside for several hours.  My couch survived! 

I hope for your sake that you don't have a story like mine!  Realistically though, these minor disasters happen often in busy homes, and especially in homes with kids.  I could go on and tell you about spilled paint, grape juice, grass and mud stains, baby puke and more.. But what's important here isn't what causes the mess, it's how to clean it up!  Thankfully the RESOLVE Tip Exchange is here to help.  

Have a stain fighting tip?  Share it and be entered to win one of 12 Weekly Prizes of $250 and the Grand Prize of $5,000!  Go forth, and be stain-free.  :) 

Disclosure: I am part of the Resolve® Tip Exchange Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

 

Bacon, Mushroom & Swiss Steak Sandwich #Recipe #Weeknight Meal

I was scouring the fridge for dinner ideas the other day, when I came up with an admittedly awesome idea for a tasty sandwich. These are hearty, extremely good (if I do say so myself) and they're fun, too!  They make a quick and easy weeknight meal, but you could whip these up for guests in a heartbeat, if you're doing a casual BBQ or get together.  I would buy some fresh bakery kaiser rolls in that case, instead of the basic burger buns which I happened to have on hand.  Try them out for yourself!

BACON, MUSHROOM & SWISS STEAK SANDWICH

Ingredients:
1 Pkg. Bacon
1 Pkg. Sandwich Steak 
Swiss Cheese
Button Mushrooms (A handful will do)
Baby Spinach
1 Bottle of BBQ Sauce (I like the Bulls-Eye Guinness)
Mayonnaise 
Hamburger/Kaiser Buns

Directions:
Start out by getting a frying pan for your bacon, and fry until done.  I like 2 slices per sandwich, and I keep mine on the softer side for these particular sandwiches.  Set bacon aside.  Get out a second non-stick frying pan to cook your sandwich steak.  (You could BBQ too, but for the very short amount of time you'll be cooking, it may not be worth it.  This meat is so thinly sliced it cooks fast.)  Smother your steak in the BBQ sauce, grind some black pepper on top,  and fry it up for approx. 2 mins. per side.  The idea is to get both sides browned, and then get it off the heat.  If you over-cook, it will be chewy.  While the steak is in the pan, top with copious amounts of Swiss cheese, and let it get all melty and delicious.  :)  If your frying pan has a lid, pop it on now to help the cheese melt. 

Toast your bun, then spread a thin layer of Mayonnaise on the top half.  Place your steak on the bottom half.  You may have to cut it in half to fit.  Add your bacon, then top with chopped mushrooms, and Spinach.  Add the top bun, and you are set!  Now, chow down and feel good about yourself because you just made a sandwich that consists of all 4 food groups and is a meal in and of itself.  Whoot!  (Of course, if you're like me you may want to throw in a side or two.  We were feeling extra indulgent that day so we went with Curly Fries, but a simple salad would be fantastic too!)

Enjoy!

 

FREE P&G Cabinet Latch Kits #ToddlerSafety

P&G Home Made Simple is offering FREE cabinet latch Safety Kits! A great idea if you have curious toddlers or infants in the house. One can never be too careful! Keep those little hands away from household cleaners, and things they shouldn't have. Fill out the ORDER FORM and yours will be on its way in about 6-8 weeks.

 

See The Wiggles LIVE in #Winnipeg - Family Pass #Giveaway

How many kids in your house are fans of The Wiggles? I have two small kids in my house who love their songs.  And having spent 3 years in Australia working with young children, I'm a pretty big fan of The Wiggles myself!  (Big Red Car is sooooo catchy!)  Fun Fact:  Rumor has it one of them even lived in my neighborhood in Sydney.  Wowza!

Lucky for all of us, The Wiggles are on a World Tour and will be stopping in Winnipeg on August 27th.  Lucky for YOU I have a Family Pack of 4 tickets to giveaway, for the 6:30pm show!  Whoot!  

After 21 years of entertaining children around the globe, The Wiggles will introduce three new cast members including the first-ever female member, Emma Watkins as the Yellow Wiggle.  Founding member Anthony Field, known as the Blue Wiggle, rounds out this vibrant group with Simon Pryce (Red Wiggle) and Lachlan Gillespie (Purple Wiggle).  The “Taking Off!” worldwide tour will crisscross North America, hitting over thirty-five major cities between August and October in support of their new album of the same name (available May 7th on Razor & Tie).  The Taking Off! DVD is slated for release later this summer, and a new television series will debut on Sprout in the fall. For a complete list of tour dates please see the schedule below or go to www.thewiggles.com

If you don't want to miss out on tickets, they are available (ranging in price from $15 - $75) via Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 855-985-5000  

Be sure to use the PROMO CODE: FLYING to Save $10!

Contest is open to residents of Canada.  Winner must be able to attend the 6:30pm showtime, on August 27th, 2013 at the Burton Cummings Theatre in WINNIPEG, MB.
 
Good Luck!

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Beat the Summer Heat! Zipzicle Review & #Giveaway

I was browsing Pinterest one day, when I came across the most fabulous product called Zipzicle.  Right away I knew that the kids and I would love them!  I often turn to frozen treats to keep the kids cool in the Summer, to snack on in the afternoon or for dessert after a BBQ.  Of course the kids are fine with this (haha) but I'm not keen on the fact that I'm basically serving them sugar water.  Then I found these:

Zipzicles are such an easy way to make your own frozen pops!  We did ours with pureed summer berries and vanilla greek yogurt.  We simply pureed them up with an immersion blender, then used a small measuring cup to pour the mixture into the small bags.  They were AWESOME.  Next time I think I'll try layering flavours for something different and fun.  It'd be a great way to play with colours and flavours!  The kids had fun experimenting, and I loved the fact that Zipzicle ice-pop bags are mess free (no drippy popsicles or melty ice-cream cones) and - above all - they are what YOU want them to be.  Healthy, and delicious. 

Chia Seed Blueberry Pops - Check the Zipzicles.com for the recipe!

Want to try some Zipzicles out for yourself?  One lucky reader is going to win 3 Packs of their very own.  How sweet is that?  Giveaway open to Residents of Canada, and Ends on August 5th. 

Good Luck!

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Disney's Planes #Giveaway - 4 Tickets to Aug.7th show in #Winnipeg

When I saw the preview for Disney's Planes, I knew it would be the perfect first Disney movie for my little man, L.  Lucky for us we've been invited to check out the advance screening in just a few weeks!  I can't wait to see it, and to give my little guy his first movie going experience.  Lucky for YOU, I've got a FAMILY PASS of 4 Tickets to giveaway for the same showtime:  Wednesday, August 7th, 7pm at Silver City Polo Park in Winnipeg. 

From above the world of “Cars” comes Disney’s “Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty, a small-town plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to naval aviator Skipper, who helps Dusty qualify to take on Ripslinger, the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Planes” takes off in theatres in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theatres. 

Enter Here - Good Luck!

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Family Friendly: Fairmont Winnipeg #FairmontCooksWithKids

Recently, my daughter D and I were given the opportunity to visit the Fairmont Winnipeg for a fun afternoon with a few other Winnipeg Bloggers and their kids! We were able to spend some time in the professional kitchen (something this self-confessed foodie Mom LOVED!) bake some goodies, and get to know our local bloggin' friends. 

The kiddos piled into the kitchen to roll out some delicious cookies in all sorts of shapes and sizes. D was keen on the elephants, the houses, and the bunnies. Chef Tim Palmer even offered her a future job, due to the precise and uniform way in which she chose to do her cookie decorating... My sweet girl is a little bit of a visual perfectionist. Like Mother, like Daughter I guess! While the cookies were baking, the kids were treated to some tasty ice cream and we were all able to chat with our new friends, and find out a little bit more about what the Fairmont Winnipeg has to offer. 

I had no idea it is such a family friendly establishment. What I love is that they really cater to the youngsters. If you go in for a meal with your children, they will let the children choose their own menu. The way they phrased it was "What do YOU want to eat?" And how wonderful is that? I have a couple of kids who differ greatly when it comes to their appetites. One likes things plain and simple, the other is as adventurous as they come. Kids menus are generally so not made for this! So to give them the freedom to choose speaks volumes for the hotel and kitchen staff. I'm willing to bet those kids' plates are almost always licked clean! And it gets better from there, they also love to invite the kids back into the kitchen to help make their own desserts. Imagine a busy kitchen full of professional chefs who are run nearly off their feet, taking time out to spend with their youngest customers. Awesome, right? I think so! 

The hotel itself has an incredible top floor with a gym, a huge saltwater pool and a sauna. It looks like a great place to get some relaxation in with the family. And if you're not up for an overnight stay, the area is open to the public on a day pass (or more) as well. I have a feeling Little Miss D and I will have to stop in again soon, with her little brother and Daddy in tow for a little bit of away-time right here in good ol' Winnipeg. Have you ever stayed at the Fairmont Winnipeg?  What is important to you when choosing a hotel for your family?


 

Win Great Prizes with @Flyerland Its Better Together Contest! #ItsBetterTogether

Flyerland.ca has put together an amazing contest that I can not wait to enter!  Prizes include a  Canon Camera and Camcorder from Shop.ca  PLUS a $2500 shopping spree from Well.ca!  I could buy a LOT of sippy cups for my two shorties with that!  (Don't laugh, I have an odd obsession with kids dishware and Well.ca has a pretty rad selection.  Just so you know!)

To enter, all you have to do is go to http://bettertogether.strutta.com/ and upload your photo of things you think go better together.  Also, do check out the Flyerland Facebook Page for more information.

What comes to mind when I think of this contest?  Well, I came across this little gem of a picture on Pinterest the other day.  The sheer adorable-ness just about kills me...  Jack and Rose, anyone???  *swoon*

Go ahead and enter the Flyerland Better Together Contest here.

Good luck! 


 

Getting my Breakfast On with Fibre 1 Cereal #Fibre1ACD

Everyone who knows me knows that I generally don't do the breakfast thing.  I get up in the morning, make a pot of coffee and, often before I take my first sip, my daycare kids begin to arrive.  And then things get crazy around here.  So finding the time to sit down to my first meal of the day often doesn't happen until 1pm when the kiddos go down for a nap!  Talk about unhealthy eating habits!

Thankfully, Mom Central Canada introduced me to Fibre 1 Almond & Cluster Delight cereal.  I have to admit, I really enjoy this cereal!  It's a fast, easy breakfast that I can eat as my kids are arriving and not have to worry about anything getting cold.  I tried mine with fresh strawberries and bananas on top, which was such a... Delight!  It's great to know that I can get 40% of my daily fibre in just one serving.  It's such an important thing, and not something that everyone thinks about when making breakfast choices.  It's also worth noting that it kept me from digging into the kiddo's animal crackers throughout the morning, as I was good and full!  

The sweet (and tasty) news is that if you check out Save.ca TODAY you might be able to get your hands on a FREE box of Fibre 1!  Check out the Save.ca Coupons now to get yours! 


  


Disclosure – I am participating in the Fibre 1 Almond & Cluster Delight Cereal blogger campaign by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.